How To Stay A Step Ahead Of Garden Pests

Nowadays, pesticides are widely used in the agriculture industry but surprisingly, we home gardeners make up a bigger percentage of synthetic pesticide users. To be clear, we use around three-fourths of the total chemical pesticides used per year. These can have negative effects on the surrounding environment, not to mention they contaminate the water supply.

But that’s not all, chemical-based pesticides can be harmful to use on the produce you grow in your garden. So why not consider stopping using pesticides altogether? Here’s something to keep in mind now and for next spring. Combat those pesky aphids and snails through organic pesticides and unique gardening techniques.

Keep Your Rows Away From Compost

It’s true that your beloved compost pit is the most resourceful asset of your garden, but if you intend to keep pests away from your precious vegetables and plants, then make sure to plant your rows away from the pit. That’s because your compost consists of biodegradable waste, which is mostly food matter, and that’s what attracts them in the first place.

Clean Your Garden Often

It’s important to keep your home clean so that it stays bug-free, and the same standard applies to your garden. Make sure to pick any vegetables or fruit that is fully ripe, because otherwise it’ll fall and rot, which attracts more pests.

Incorporate Row Covers

If you’re growing in rows, then an effective way to keep flying pests away from your product is to implement the use of row covers. It protects vegetables such as cabbage and is breathable at the same time so that you don’t compromise on growth, and keep loopers and moths away.

Use Neem Oil Insecticide

Finally, an insecticide you can spray on those awful pests. Neem oil is a natural insecticide that can kill pests whether they’re fully grown adults or larvae. You can purchase neem oil insecticide from any gardening store or make it at home. In one quart of water, add two teaspoons of fungicide neem oil and a little bit of mild soap. Shake the spray bottle well before using the mixture on the plants that are affected.

Use Insects That Eat Other Insects

Using the power of the ecosystem, you can effectively get rid of pests from your garden. After doing a little bit of research, you can learn about what species to keep in your garden to help keep pests away. Insects like lady beetles and the praying mantis are both effective at keeping your garden healthy.

Grow More and More

I’ve always reminded you to broaden your perspective and grow more than just a few types of produce in your garden, not just because it’s fun, but it keeps pests away too. A diverse garden is like a confusing maze for pests like snails or aphids because nothing stays the same as they move. This prevents them from settling in one place and then reproducing.

Using these methods, you can grow any kind of produce you like, without worrying that it can attract harmful bugs to your garden.

Oh, we are all about…

How To Compost Better

There are two basic ways of composting; the first being cold, and the other one being hot. If you’ve been composting all along, it’s likely that you’ve been implementing the cold method, which is basically just layering your organic material and waiting for it to decompose over a year or so.

However, if your area is prone to warmer weather, it’s likely that you should use the hot method which is much faster. It allows you to get high-grade compost within a couple of months. If you want to help speed up the process on your own, you can fulfill the requirements for quick hot composting, which is air, nitrogen, water, and carbon. All these factors help feed microorganisms. As a result, your organic matter will decompose sooner.

Vermicompost

Aside from microorganisms that will already be present in the soil, you need the right worms as well to help in producing more nitrogen. This is a healthier way of adding nitrogen to your compost, compared to chemical-based additives.

Vermicompost is also the same thing, except the process of making this type of compost is sped up thanks to worms. These worms eat up organic matter like food scraps and then produce nitrogen-rich castings that are great for your compost.

Remember that you need adequate worms and not just any kind of garden worms. Redworms are what you should look for, and they can be found at pretty much any gardening store out there. Now that you’ve determined the types of compost and how you can make all of them, it’s time to learn as to what you should and shouldn’t be putting in your compost.

What You Should Compost

Here are some of the ingredients for a healthy compost that can make great hummus i.e. soil grower. Fruit scarps are the number one thing on any compost list because they’re rich in nutrients and sugar which can attract plenty of feeders.

Vegetable scraps don’t have as high of sugar content as fruits, but they do have plenty of nutrients that can boost soil health. Other organic materials like coffee grounds and eggshells will do just fine. It’s a no-brainer, but it’ll pay off to put in any plant clippings, pieces of wood from a tree, grass and dry leaves that collect during autumn.

What You Should Not Compost

A common misconception is that any kind of organic matter will do when it comes to compost. The truth is the exact opposite, and there are not just some, but many types of organic matter that you should avoid adding to your compost.

Refrain from adding sawdust or chips if they’re obtained from wood that has been pressure-treated. Foods that contain meat, grease, or oil; these can greatly disturb the ecosystem inside your compost. Clippings from diseased plants, pet feces and products made from dairy shouldn’t be added either because these can rot and ruin your compost rather than benefit it.

How To

Once you’ve gathered all your organic matter that you want to start composting wit, add it to a container and layer it with soil. Make sure to alternate between green and brown matter; green is wet while brown is dry. Too much of green matter will leave you with a smelly compost so make sure to have equal amounts.

Remember to add adequate amounts of water to keep your compost damp as this is the right environment for microorganisms to thrive. Every week, remember to fork through the pile so that there’s plenty of oxygen inside for your feeders and microorganisms. Happy Farming!

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